Click for ginormous map:

Courtesy of NYT

>

Source:
Record Stores Fight to Be Long-Playing
BEN SISARIO
NYT, April 18, 2008   
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/arts/music/18reco.html

Posted at 06:40 AM in Music, NYC, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Click for ginormous map:

Courtesy of NYT

>

Source:
Record Stores Fight to Be Long-Playing
BEN SISARIO
NYT, April 18, 2008   
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/arts/music/18reco.html

Posted at 06:42 AM in Music, NYC, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

via boingboing

Posted at 06:09 AM in Humor, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I was recently given a Davek Duet Umbrella as a gift. These are the Rolls Royces of umbrellas, and if you ever need to give a rather lavish corporate gift, they for you.

The frame is "Carbon WindFlex" -- made of a flexible carbon polymer ligaments to prevent breakage or rib distortion in strong winds. Handles are finely stitched, with a black and silver zinc alloy material and polished silver clip.

The umbrellas are extremely well made, very strong, and made with what appears to be high-end materials. They come with an unconditional lifetime replacement guarantee.  Break it, you get a new one. Lose it, and the company allows you to replace it at half price.

The Davek Solo model, with a 43 inch canopy, currently retails for $99. The Davek Duet, with a golf-sized 55 inch canopy, retails for $149. They are carried at high end luxe stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and Takashimaya.

Posted at 06:22 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Tom Toles via Yahoo

Posted at 04:00 PM in Finance, Idiot!, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Exactly one year ago, a Mark Cuban declared Why he doesn't wear a suit -- and can't figure out why anyone does !.   

It festered for a while, and then I forgot about it. A recent event made me revisit it.

I understand why Mark don't want to wear a suit -- he doesn't have to, having achieved that magic number of dollars that lets you say fuck you to the rest of the world without consequence.

What I can't figure out is why he does not understand why so many other people have to. Perhaps all that lovely lucre obscures one memory of life in the real world.

Suits (in a modern sense of the word) have been worn ever since Louis XIV of France and Charles II, king of Great Britain, so decreed to members of Court in the 17th Century that they must wear them.

Why did the kings so declare?  BECAUSE THEY COULD. Like an alpha dog establishing dominance over the rest of the pack, so too, the monarchs established their dominance over their domains and their subjects. Their lessers all competed for survival, significant others, and standard of living. It was, and still is, very Darwinian in nature.

Ever since then, the wearing of a suit has been a social sign of conformity and stature. It is shorthand for your place in the pecking order -- corporate, academic, fraternal or otherwise. Some discussions of this explicitly recognize this (see the book The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style).   

Henry David Thoreau once noted "It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if they were divested of their clothes."

You wear a suit because you must in order to earn a paycheck, join the team, win a contract, sell a product or service. It is a uniform that can at times declare "I am of lower significance than you, and I humbly wear this suit as a sign of respect and deference, so I may win favor from you, or a contract, a vote, or a raise, and please won't you buy some whole life insurance from me."

Back in the day, IBM was infamous for the blue suits their employees wore, as a sign of total subjugation to the corporate entity over the individual identity. Is it any surprise the mainframe manufacturer failed to adapt well to the era of personal PCs? It was an anathema to them. 

Those of independent financial means (like Mark)  have little need to subjugate themselves for financial purposes, and thus don't HAVE to wear suits all that often.

Even without the suit, there are ways to judge our betters and lessers by other status cues -- cars, spouses, homes, watches, shoes, etc.  Ever see two guys meet, and one flips back the others neck tie to see the label/designer? That's called (I love this expression) "The Lehman Handshake" -- and its little more than a status confirmation.

If you study a little sartorial history, as well as understand how Human Societies have functioned over the past 5 centuries, the Suit makes more and more sense.

Many expressions we hear reflect this: Clothes make the man, time to suit up, put on your Sunday best.

Now about those ugly rep ties . . .

Posted at 06:03 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack

I love the Elitest Music T-Shirt:

The Commonly Accepted Path of Robot Evolution

This is my IM away message

And this is all too true . . .

Posted at 06:20 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

via boing boing

Posted at 08:41 AM in Current Affairs, Humor, Idiot!, Politics, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Interesting graphic:

Source:
The Everyman Who Exposed Tainted Toothpaste
WALT BOGDANICH
NYT, October 1, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/world/americas/01panama.html

Posted at 10:38 AM in Current Affairs, Food and Drink, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Great article in Smart Money in how and why certain pricing strategies occur:

Airplane Tickets

When to Buy: Wednesday morning.
Why: "Most airfare sales are thrown out there on the weekend," says travel expert Peter Greenberg, a.k.a. The Travel Detective¹. Other airlines then jump into the game, discounting their own fares and prompting further changes by the first airline. The fares reach their lowest prices late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

 

Books

When to Buy: Thursday.
Why: Price compare between major chains Borders and Barnes & Noble. The former releases its weekly sales and coupons on every Thursday; the latter, every Tuesday.

 

Cars

When to Buy: Monday.
Why: "Car dealers live for the weekend, which is when they make most of their sales," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com². "On Mondays, the low foot traffic makes it seem like the weekend will never come." That dealer desperation, paired with fewer consumers on the lot, give you more negotiating power.

 

Clothing

When to Buy: Thursday evening.
Why: That's the day when stores stock their shelves for the weekend, and when many retailers — including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and Express — start their weekend promotions, says Kathryn Finney, author of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista." You'll find great prices and the best selection. "It's an effort to get people to shop in the middle of the week," she says.

 

Department-Store Wares

When to Buy: Saturday evening.
Why: Department stores have a lot to mark down for their Sunday circulars, so they frequently start the process on Saturday evenings before store closing, says Finney. "They're preparing for the big rush," she says. Bonus: Even if the markdowns haven't been made, many employees will honor the sale price if you ask. Print out the circular preview from the store's web site, and bring it with you when you head to the mall.

 

Dinner Out

When to Buy: Tuesday.
Why: Most restaurants do not receive food deliveries over the weekend. "Sunday is the garbage-can day of the week," says Kate Krader, senior editor at Food & Wine magazine. "No doubt, they're cleaning out their fridges. Tuesdays, they're starting fresh." Dining out on that day offers the best odds you'll get a meal worth paying for, no matter your price point, she says.

 

Entertainment

When to Buy: Wednesday.
Why: Plenty of movie theaters, amusement parks and museums offer extra discounts to consumers who visit midweek. Six Flags theme parks offer a $12 discount to AAA members — three times its usual discount of $4. AMC Theatres offers members in its free AMC Movie Watcher reward program a free small popcorn on Wednesdays. (This summer, it's also the day select theaters offer free Summer Movie Camp³ screenings.)

 

Gas

When to Buy: Thursday, before 10 a.m.
Why: The price of oil isn't the only factor influencing costs at your local pump. Consumer usage plays a role, too — and weekend demand is high, says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com⁴, a price-monitoring site. Prices usually swing upward on Thursdays as travelers fuel up to head out the following day. By hitting the pump before 10 a.m. (when many station owners change their prices), you'll beat the rush and the price jump.

 

Groceries

When to Buy: Sunday  — or Tuesday.
Why: Maximize savings by combining store sales, which run from Wednesday to Tuesday, with the latest round of coupons from your Sunday paper, says Mary Hunt, publisher of Debt-Proof Living⁵, a money-saving newsletter. "It's a smart idea to wait until you have those in hand to match up with the week's sale items," she says.

To snag savings on items you don't need just yet, shop on Tuesday, advises Hunt. Chances are, the store will have run out of the sale items. "That means you can pick up rain checks, which allow you to buy those items later when you need them, and at the sale price," she says.

 

Hotel Rooms

When to Buy: Sunday.
Why: There are two kinds of hotel managers, and the kind that won't give you a discount on your room rate has Sundays off, says Greenberg. Call the hotel directly, and ask to speak with the manager on duty or the director of sales. These employees are open to negotiation, he says. They'd rather have a booked room at a discounted rate than an empty room. (The rest of the week, your call would get you a so-called revenue manager, who monitors profits — and is rarely willing to lower rates.)

Cool stuff . . .

>

Sources:
The Cheapest Days to Buy Certain Items
Kelli B. Grant |Kelli B. Grant
Smart Money July 2, 2007
http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20070702

http://petergreenberg.com/

http://www.edmunds.com

http://www.amctheatres.com/smc/

http://www.gasbuddy.com

http://www.cheapskatemonthly.com/

Posted at 06:17 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I love this idea:

Color-Coded Criminals by Mr. Purple

Posted at 06:18 AM in Design, Film, Humor, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Given all the turmoil in the credit markets, consumer confusion is rampant. Dow Jones looks a t the 6 questions consumers are asking the most -- and answers them.

Will I still be able to get a mortgage?

Can I still get a no-down payment loan?

My mortgage lender declared bankruptcy. What do I do?

Should I be concerned if I currently have a subprime mortgage?

My certificate of deposit is from a lender that has made subprime loans. Is my money safe?

Is now a good time to buy a home?

Source:
Six Questions Consumers Are Asking About The Mortgage Market
Amy Hoak
Dow Jones, August 10, 2007: 04:13 PM EST
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/
200708101613DOWJONESDJONLINE000627_FORTUNE5.htm

Posted at 06:04 AM in Finance, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Uh, you guys may want to tweak that algorithm a bit . . .

Hmmmm, so you think that buying a disposable $39 tool kit is best accessorized by a $2000 $1,299.88 Samsung HP-S4253 42" Plasma HDTV?  Nice !

Posted at 06:31 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Via Under the counter, comes this must-have device:

Its crunch time for procrastinators who need that special gift for their filthy rich friends and family. We are quite smitten with the Ambient Orb here. With the S&P 500 down today it has turned an unfamiliar color...we prefer the green glow it has been steadily emitting. Of course, you can always unplug it.

Posted at 07:05 PM in Current Affairs, Humor, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Amusing ad for the Muang Kulaypan Hotel:

Posted at 05:59 AM in Photo Caption Contest!, Shopping, Travel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

>

From CNN Money: How to Shop Smart for a Car

Buying a car can seem like a huge hassle, from figuring out what price you should pay to handling the hard sell on the dealer's lot. You can avoid the work in one of two ways.

The Easy Way: Hire a car buyer If you are willing to spend an extra $400 to $800, you can reduce the entire car buying experience to a couple of phone calls and one visit to the dealer to pick up the keys. Car buying services such as AutoAdvisor.com and CarQ.com will find the model you want, negotiate a competitive price and loan terms with the dealer and, in many cases, set up a test drive.

That's the premium approach; do-it-yourselfers can still make this a relatively painless exercise:

Almost as Easy: Buy online If you want to save as much money as you can, do it yourself. Even that doesn't have to be hard if you tap the Net. First go to Edmunds.com and use the True Market Value (TMV) tool to find out what people in your area are paying to drive your desired model off the lot. Aim to pay this price or less. You may also want to get pre-approved for a bank loan and ignore dealer financing until you have settled on a price.

Next solicit dealer offers online. At Edmunds.com (or Autobytel.com), you enter the model you want, your contact info and your zip code (or nearby ones), and within a few hours you'll get quotes by e-mail or phone. You should have an easier time haggling because the dealership's Internet department makes commissions based on volume, not the price. They won't waste time wheeling and dealing you.

>

Source:
7 Shortcuts for Major Money Hassles
Kate Ashford, Carolyn Bigda, George Mannes, Walter Updegrave and Penelope Wang
CNN Money
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/moneymag/shortcuts/6.html

Posted at 06:57 AM in Automobiles, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bob Herbert wrote about this yesterday:

But Adrants was all over it months ago:   One Sort of Facial Promotes Another:

"this Clinique ad - currently appearing in People - comes to us today in an attachment called "Money Shot" along with wonderment regarding just what sort of facial is being eluded to. Really. How exactly does a glob of fluid on a woman's face promote moisturizing cream?"

>

Source:
One Sort of Facial Promotes Another
Ad Rants
http://www.adrants.com/2006/08/one-sort-of-facial-promotes-another.php

Posted at 11:55 AM in Art & Design, Current Affairs, Philosophy, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

These are great:

Note the product:

Looks dangerous

And for you coffee drinkers:

Posted at 05:41 AM in Art & Design, Design, Humor, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Fun WSJ article on how to haggle:

Most people don't think twice about bargaining when it comes to something big, like a new car or home. But getting a price cut on smaller things -- cable bills, doctors' fees, electronics goods -- can be surprisingly easy: Just ask.

That goes against the grain for millions of Americans. Maybe our ancestors haggled at the dry-goods store. But today's big-box supermarkets, laser price scanners and uniformed checkout personnel present a barrier.

The good news is, in many situations, it's getting easier to ask for, and get, a price break. Increasingly, retailers and others are empowering rank-and-file employees to give discounts. At hotels, for example, most desk clerks can give 10% to 25% off the advertised rate, whereas a few years ago that might have required a discussion with the manager, says Rick Doble, a discount-advice writer and accomplished haggler.

From personal experience, I can tell you that is  true. And I no longer book travel or hotel without asking -- there usually is some promotion going on:

Pick your store, and your moment. Try small boutiques and family-owned businesses. Look for somebody who seems knowledgeable and comfortable in their job, not the high-school student who started last week. Go in when the store isn't busy -- a harried staffer has less time or inclination to negotiate.

Ease into it. Chat with the salesperson, and ask a lot about prices, so they can see that is a concern. Ask if they take an American Automobile Association discount, or a local discount card, even if you know they don't. After a few leading questions, it's possible a shopkeeper will simply volunteer 10% off.

Offer to pay in cash. Credit-card companies take 2% to 3% of the price in fees out of the merchant's pocket. At some stores, nicely asking whether you get a break for paying in cash can quickly get you 5% or 10% off -- more than the credit-card fees.

Make it easy for them to pull it off: Ask if it's possible for you to ride on the coattails of a "friends and family" discount, or employee discount.

Call your phone company, ISP and cable providers and say you're thinking about switching. Often, you'll immediately get transferred to the company's "retention" desk, where the staff is prepped with special offers designed to retain wavering customers.

Finally, assume there is a promotion going on. Mr. Doble, author of the book "Savvy Discounts," says he never checks into a hotel before asking, "Don't you have a special at this time of year?" Much of the time, the answer is "yes," he says. And after he has finished cutting a deal, he asks for an upgrade. And free breakfast.

Good stuff . . .

>

Source:
How Do You Get a Break in the Price Of Practically Anything? Easy, Just Ask
By SARAH MCBRIDE
August 19, 2006; Page B1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115593351893439692.html

Posted at 08:55 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

I noted earlier this year that "Bling" had jumped the Shark.

So it really shouldn't have been any big surprise while picking up some groceries and holiday presents in Target that I saw THIS sign:

click for larger photo

Now that "Bling" the word has become a marketing phrase for chain discounters like Target, can we please retire it? 

Posted at 01:28 PM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

If money is no object, then  you may want to consider this list of 
the "absolute best gear money can buy for home theater and beyond."

Lots of big ticket items from the absolute cutting edge of AV technology.

As the editors note, "Make no mistake - to get on the list at all is one heck of a feat considering how many products are released each year."

Some of my favorites from the list:

• Mark Levinson No. 40 AV Preamp

• B&W 802D Loudspeakers

• Sony Qualia 004 SXRD Projector

• D-Box Quest Integrated Motion Simulation Seating

• Paradigm Studio 100 v.3 Home Theater Loudspeaker System   

• Meridian G68 Digital Surround Controller   
   

• MartinLogan Montage Loudspeaker

• Meridian 800CD/DVD/DVD-Audio Player

• Gallo Acoustics Due, MPS Speaker System

Other notable mentions:

• Transparent Reference Audio-Video Cables
• Samsung PPM63H3 63 Inch Plasma Monitor

Posted at 06:52 AM in Design, Film, Music, Shopping, Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Deal Seeker's Cheat Sheet

Veteran online bargain hunters employ a variety of strategies to secure the best prices. A look at some of them:

<spacer>

Posted at 06:42 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

uusivia Mark Morford comes this utterly amusing take on a new twist in advertising: Porn Stars In My Underwear.  As Morford writes, "There's sexy advertising, and then there's hiring hot porn starlets to sell tube socks."

The ubiquitous excerpt:

Oh, I know, it's all horrible and exploitative and demeaning and softcore pornographic and stuff.
It's all destructive and debilitating and morally dubious, the fact that the oddly patriotic clothing company called American Apparel dares to photograph barely of-age girls and boys in sly, smiling, half-lidded, gritty, delightfully sexy poses in order to sell socks and underwear and T-shirts, all manufactured by an L.A.-based company that swears it doesn't employ sweatshop labor and claims it treats its local work force fairly and lovingly and decently, while at the same time it has zero moral issue with hiring -- has anyone noticed? -- true-blue porn starlet and AVN Performer of the Year Lauren Phoenix to model their tube socks and undies and boy-beater tanks.

To which we can only say: God bless them. Mostly.

Here's the snaps which accompany the article. Text via Morford (gratitude via me)

Lip gloss. Lip gloss delivered to humankind on the wings of naked nipple-twisting well-lubed angels

You know, I haven't thought about tube socks in any serious way since I was about 10, back in the '70s, when tube socks ruled the planet and the longer they were, the better, and if they had those cool stripes by the knee they were totally way bitchin'. Now, suddenly, tube socks are very, very impressive items indeed. Suddenly they look positively delicious.

I need to go, um, shopping now . . .

Posted at 06:30 AM in Photo Caption Contest!, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Pretty fascinating collection of products from the turn of the centruy (um, last century). All available over the counter, no prescription, perfectly legally -- in any pharmacy or grocery.

Cocaine: Now in delicious Cherry flavor !

Heroin:  From a name you trust

Morphine: Mom's helper when Junior has a toothache!

Drugs are whack  available from your local grocer!

Source:
Before Prohibition: Images from the preprohibition era when many psychotropic substances were legally available in America and Europe
Addiction Research Unit, Department of Psychology/University at Buffalo
http://wings.buffalo.edu/aru/preprohibition.htm

Posted at 07:27 AM in Humor, Politics, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

So my new G5 iMac arrives -- only it has a thin pink stripe down the center of the screen. Tech support is very helpful, we run a few tests. They eventually declare it DOA -- and email me a shipping tag.

I print out the label at work, and then I carefully pack the Mac back up, and take it over to FedExKinkos to ship it back to Cupertino -- the guys there were also very helpful -- we seal it up, attach the shipping label, and off we go.

So far, a bad situation -- a brand new dead PC -- is moving along bette rthan expected. Minor headaches, but all parties involed get props for being so helpful.

I ask for a receipt, and -- here's where things get odd -- they don't do that.

No receipt? Um, excuse me? I am handing you over $1,800 worth of hardware -- admittedly DOA hardware -- but its still 2 grand worth of computer that I am responsible for. The guy at Kinko'sFedEx sez:

"Sorry, we can't give you a receipt, unless you pay for the shipping - - and Apple paid for it. Keep a copy of your print out of the label as a receipt. Or you can wait for the driver to arrive, and watch him scan it into the shipment."

This is a very seriously flawed process; If FedEx loses it, then I have no proof that I entrusted it to them; Or an unscrupulous person can pretend to have shipped a DOA PC (which is really fine), and blame the receiptless FedEx, keeping the merch. Either way, its not good for either party.

I'm not about to wait 2 hours for a driver; Nor am I going to place $2,000 worth of hardware I am responsible for into the hands of a stranger. 

Fancy a game of "shipper's roulette?" No thank you.

But I have an idea. Do it yourself reciept:  Snap a shot of the boxed Mac in Kinkos on the LG phone, email myself the photo -- Voila! Instant reciept!

iMac G5 at the Glen Cove Road Kinkos Fed Ex in Greenvale NY
Saturday, January 8 2005, 4:54 pm.

Even better, my car's GPS places me in the Kinko's parking lot. I don't know how long e911 keeps records, but it should show my location of where the emailed photo was made from as that Kinkos.

So now I feel I have covered my own ass -- but is this really necessary?

Hey Fed Ex! How about a reciept next time . . . ? 

.
UPDATE:  January 10, 2005 9:42 am

I call FedEx support, to verify if perhaps the employee made a mistake in not handing me a reciept. The support person tells me that this is indeed the practice with prepaid shipping stickers on packages dropped off at FedEx Kinkos in NY. I cannot recall which of these variables might change elsewhere, but there you have it.

Oh, the kicker? She tells me I cannot track the package until afte rit gets scanned by a driver at 5pm today -- thats 48 hours after it was dropped off at Kinkos. 48 Hours to get lost, dropped stolen or broken -- and I still have no proof thjat the machine is in their care.

.
UPDATE:  January 10, 2005 10:24 pm

Huzzah! I have a FedEx tracking number --   361876310241727
It shows the Ship date as  Jan 10, 2005  (thats wrong -- it was dropped off on 1/8/05)

The package appears to have been picked up at  6:11 PM  on Jan 10, 2005
8:09 PM Arrived at FedEx location  BETHPAGE, NY 

Estimated delivery  Jan 17, 2005, to ELK GROVE, CA
Service type :  Ground Return Online Label -
Weight   29.2 lbs.

While I appreicate being able to track this now, its besides the point.

For a pretty regarded company, Fed Ex needs to improve some of its systems . . .

Posted at 06:55 AM in Design, Shopping, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack

The site offers in-depth reading on over 60 consumer related telecom issues. Consumer tips on what to do before you buy, understanding your bills after and making companies listen when you are unhappy (from phone services to copyright rules on digital content).  There are also 7 different ways to make a difference in less then 2 minutes (see "Get Heard" on the left bar and click the red link).  Hearusnow.org gives consumers the ability to work for change on an individual level and provides hundreds of resources to join efforts already going on across the country.

And there is a fun movie to watch, a spoof on a current TV show, but more importantly puts media consolidation (a somewhat dry topic) in to a nice, easily digestible, package.

You can help spread the word by going to HearUsNow
http://www.hearusnow.org/

Posted at 05:18 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Posted at 09:34 PM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Kudos to MacMerc for discovering a devilishly simple method for determining if you have a winning Pepsi/iTunes bottle -- Tilt it:

"The secret is the angle. I've found it to be 25º, but that's really no use when you're out in the field. Just tilt it until it seems about that, and look up towards it (hold it above your head). With luck, you should be able to see under the cap."

A loser will have the word "AGAIN" visible:

"It's easiest to read "again" and tag the losers because there are no random letters involved. You can spot a word like again from a mile away. If you don't see again and you have given the bottle a twist (to check from all angles), make a purchase. If not, hit the shelf."

You can see all the details at MacMerc

via linkfilter

Posted at 11:32 AM in Finance, Music, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"You don't have a DVD player? YOU?"

I've heard that countless times over the past few years, and its true -- this gadget lover geek boy had no DVD player--until today.

Bought one I was familiar with on an impulse for under $100. Progressive scan, CD-R, MP3 Data, S video out. Pretty much all I wanted.

Fnny thing is, I really don't need one. I'm more of a recorder than a player -- witness the devastingly effective pairing of Dish Satellite with Tivo PVR.

Still, its out there. On the occasional Blockbuster run, I notice the selection differences between the fading VHS and the newer DVD. The kicker has been getting DVDs as gifts -- notably, the 4 DVD set of Oscar winners my sister gave me for the holidays this year.

What finally put me over has been the huge selection of musical concerts, special shows, studio recordings on DVD.

When I come across something notable, I'll be sure to make note of it here!

Posted at 07:28 PM in Film, Music, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Deck the halls, its time for another retail horror story:

"Those of you who have worked retail during the holiday season will understand my reluctance to speak about this before now. The memories are horrific, brutal and sometimes cause flashbacks that leave me curled up in a fetal position, sobbing and begging to be sedated.

1983 was my first holiday retail experience. It was a baptism by fire, as I landed a job at the busiest record store at the busiest mall on Long Island. Record World, Roosevelt Field, a/k/a/ RF#1. On my first day - two days before Thanksgiving - I was handed the requisite blue vest, a name tag and a few whispered words of advice: don't let them get to you. My co-workers were referring to the barrage of customers that were at the gated entrance to the store fifteen minutes before opening and still clinging to the cassette racks as we were trying to close. You have not seen a whirling dervish in action until you have seen someone hell bent on getting everything on their kid's Christmas list.

I, however, was no wimp. I could handle any customer, any crowd, any cash register breakdown or old woman sobbing over the Julio Iglesias albums. I immediately volunteered to work the irons - the opening to closing shift - nearly every day. From Thanksgiving until Christmas, I would not have a day off, and most of the days would be the full work shift . . .

The closer it got to Christmas, the more of a frenzy people were in. They fought over the last copy of Synchronicity. They mobbed us when we opened a new box of Madonna cassettes. And every once in a while, I would have to step over some fur-coated, blue-haired grandma who fainted when she saw the larger-than-life cardboard cut-out of Julio. And I started to feel the result of all work and no play. I was tired, cranky and I lost my voice . . ." (story continues here)

Not quite The Wal-Mart Nite Shift, but worth reading.

Via Winds of Change

Posted at 06:58 PM in Humor, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ever see a movie with a kickass soundtrack, only to find out the soundtrack sucks? Sometimes, the music has nothing whatsoever to do with the film. The worst of all the soundtracks is "Music Inspired by" nonsense.

Which brings me to "The Transporter." Its a half decent, Hong Kong style shoot 'em up with a coupla good chase scenes, too. My favorite aspect of the film was the odd juxtasposition of funky, goofy music during fairly straight forward fight scenes.

My favorite example of this is major fight scene about 35 minutes into the film. The cut "Fighting man" by DJ Pone & Drixxxe is playing the whole time. Its a bizarre, almost tongue-in-cheek soundtrack.

If you like this tune, or any of the music from the film, unfortuantely, you cannot order the actual soundtrack in the U.S. Instead, you can only get the never any good "Music inspired by the movie."

Yeah, it was so inspirational, the director and musical coordinator decided to use none of it. Sheesh!

There is some good news -- you can actually order the original film soundtrack via Amazon UK:
The Transporter [SOUNDTRACK]
by Stanley Clarke
Label: Eastwest
ASIN: B00006MLR1 (Catalogue Number: 5046609612)

And while you are here, check out Fighting man by DJ Pone & Drixxxe.

After you listen to this, come back and post a comment if you think this goofy tune could possibly work as the track for a big fists, feet and gun fight. In the film, it really gives the scene an interestingly amusing flavor. (I found it hilarious). But it works . . .

Posted at 11:49 PM in Film, Music, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (64) | TrackBack

Since today is black friday -- the busiest shopping day of the year -- and so many of you probably don't ant to brave the crush of the stores, or (gasp!) the mall, try shopping from the comfort of your own home:
Look for the best prices on DVDs with DVD Price Search Engine.

Its a good way to comparison shop Online.

Here's the obligatory excerpt from dvdpricesearch.com's site:

Besides keeping you informed of the latest DVD coupons, bargains and specials on the web, DVD Price Search helps you compare prices on the newest and hottest DVD movies. Price comparison shopping online has never been easier with our search engine which is capable of finding those hidden deals that other price comparison websites just don't know about!

Hat tip to linkfilter

Posted at 06:00 AM in Film, Shopping, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Just in case the $440,000 Porsche Carrera GT wasn't exclusive enough for you, the Ferrari Enzo

Posted at 05:00 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Very nice comparison engine for new and used books. Fetchbook scans over 80 bookstores in seconds, and presents a list of stores in price order. Search by title, author or ISBN. Simple, clean interface (ala Google).

Works well and is recommended.

via linkfilter

Posted at 07:53 AM in Books, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

All your favorite Pink Floyd "The Wall" collectible characters!

The sale's pitch: "These stunning, statuesque figures measure 6" to 8" each and are available from thewalldirect.com in a giant, limited collector's edition boxed set that includes a sixth figure not available individually!

In 1982, Director Alan Parker's movie based on Pink Floyd's seminal concept album "The Wall" was released. The film's mixture of live action scenes and animated sequences supervised by artist Gerald Scarfe, set to Pink Floyd's powerful music, made for a film experience unlike any other.

Now, for the first time, collectible maquettes are available representing some of the most recognizable characters from "The Wall".

"The boxed set includes Scorpion & Pink, Teacher, Marching Hammers, Eagle Warplane, Judge and the exclusive Megaphone Hammer not available outside of this special edition boxed set!

Each maquette comes with its own section of the Wall, and the wall sections interlock to form a truly amazing display piece nearly 3 feet long!"

Source: http://www.thewalldirect.com/

Hat tip to Linkfilter

Posted at 11:30 AM in Art & Design, Music, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

"I'm a virgin. Are you?"

So goes the ad campaign for "strings" -- or thongs, as we call them -- at Galeries Lafayette, the closest thing France has to Bloomingdale's:

On Saturday, the store is offering free half-hour lessons by professional striptease artists so that "women can familiarize themselves with the art of revealing their new lingerie."

The grand opening coincides with a rash of sexually explicit advertising campaigns for lingerie that have enraged feminist groups and a few outspoken lawmakers who charge that they exploit women and potentially encourage violence against them.

"The pornographic and the idea of woman as prostitute has become universal, ordinary," said Florence Montreynaud, the head of La Meute, a feminist group. "What kind of a world are we living in when striptease artists give lessons at Galeries Lafayette? Is this the world of the chic and elegant Parisian? Is this a store I can feel comfortable shopping in with my grandmother?"

Source:
To Sell Lingerie, Inhibitions, and Much More, Are Falling
By Elaine Sciolino
Published: November 6, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/06/international/europe/06PARI.html

Posted at 10:34 AM in Media, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Back in late July, I posted a whining complaint regarding what ridiculous scams Rebates are, along with a link to a CBS Msrketwatch story on the same topic. I bitched about a $50 TiVo rebate and 2 $70 rebates from Amazon Sprint.

They have both been resolved favorably. Here's the play by play:

TiVo first. I got one for my B-day last year -- October '02, with lifetime membership. Mailed everything out promptly. Three months later, log on to check on it -- nada. I call someone, get the usual rebate bullshit story -- please remail it in, I'm asked; Then check back in a few months.

I do, and wait another few months.

Just in case you missed the early part of the story, here's a reminder: These rebate firms are all lying weasel scammeisters. They count on 50% (if not more) of people not even mailing the paperwork in. The fools who do mail it in, they make jump through hoops. Its a pathetic example of the dark underside of capitalism.

So now its 7 or 8 months later; Mind you, I love my TiVo -- best toy (of many) in the house, edging past the iPod and the inflatable sheep.

I call TiVo customer service, which should win an award for top 5 worst voicemail systems outside of the Seventh level of Hades. Just awful.

Eventually, I get what sounds like a Human. I explain the situation, politely but firmly:

"I know this isn't your fault, but its been 8 months and I'm really tired of the run around"

Customer Service is polite, but unhelpful. That leads me to ask THE QUESTION. Any time you are dealing with this sort of bureaucratic situation, you must be prepared to ask THE QUESTION. It goes like this:

"I'm sorry, I missed your name?"

Its Ken.

"Ken, are you authorized to resolve this to my satisfaction? By that, I mean do you have the authority to approve cutting a $50 check?"

"No, I don't, sir"

"Thank you, Ken, you've been most helpful. Please put your supervisor on"

Note that this is spoken as a direct command -- not a request -- but rather, a firm but polite command. In the same tone you would tell your dog to sit. Not angry, not loud, just authoritative.
MAX, SIT!

Supervisor Mary comes on. I oh-so s l o w l y retell my story. At this point, I've invested enough time that by taking an extra 90 seconds, its a tiny % to me -- but I'm getting Mary to spend time, and therefore have a greater commitment to resolving this. Its kinda what car salesman do; They are not really speaking to their managers, when they step out of the sales cubicle -- they are getting you to commit time.

I start out with a little sugar: "You know, I used to recommend TiVo to a lot of people. I love mine; its a terrific machine. (Pregnant pause. . . ) But I've (SIGH) stopped recommending TiVo to people -- Not with this terrible rebate experince I've been having. I'd really like to recommend the machine, but (SIGH) I cannot in good conscience . . . not when your firm hastaken over 8 months to send me a $50 rebate. Its a darn shame . . ."

This is all very seductive. I try to ourr th words out.

"Mary, this is penny wise and pound foolish. I've been responsible for 20 people buying TiVo in the first 4 months I had the machine. Since this rebate stuff got out of hand, not a single referral. And, its taking all the joy out of what should be a terrific user experience. Please help my TiVo get its mojo back."

Mary is apologetic, but goes to the default procedural rebate center bullshit.

Now its time to take this up a notch:

Mary, I don't know these rebate people, and quite frankly, I don't give a damn who they are. (Still quiet, voice steady). I have no relationship with them -- but I do have a relationship with your firm. (A little louder now ) I don't appreciate being fobbed off on some 3rd party, most especially some incompetant bureaucracy. I never asked to do business with them -- they have demonstrated that they are worthless when it comes to customer service. I am through with them. Done, Finito. Can you understand that Mary?

"Yes sir, I do, but there are procedures."

"Mary, can I ask you 3 questions?"

"Sure."

"When I ordered this, I paid with a credit card -- That transaction was approved, correct?"

"Yes sir."

"Then I ordered a lifetime subscription -- same credit card with my name on it. Was that transction approved? "

"Yes sir."

"And each night, my machine logs in from a phone line at the same residence where that credit card is, right?"

"Yes sir."

(Not too loud -- but with emphasis) "SO WHAT IS THE DAMN PROBLEM WITH HONORING YOUR REBATE AND MAILING ME MY CHECK? We just established unequivocally that I am an authorized fully paid for TiVo owner. Please honor your promises."

"There are rebate procedures sir."

Mary, here's my last question for you (Its THE question): Do you have authority to resolve this to my satisfaction? If the answer is no, than ITS MY PROCEDURE TO HAVE YOU CONNECT ME TO YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, and we will resolve it that way.

"Yes I do Sir, I will look into it. You will here back from me within 10 days."

This was a Friday.